Local News Archives

Berrien County voters have green-lighted nearly all the local proposals on the ballot on Tuesday. Many were millage renewals for schools and public safety. A bond proposal to build a new fire station in Baroda Township is the only one that appeared to have lost as of early this morning, going down by just 16 votes, with 324 no and 308 yes. A new millage is going to be levied on Lincoln Township residents for the next decade to operate, maintain and equip the township library. The operating millage for the North Berrien Historical Society was also approved in the city of Coloma and the townships of Bainbridge, Coloma, Hagar and Watervliet.. ...Read Full Story

An ongoing study on the future development of the riverfront in St. Joseph and Benton Harbor will result in some workshops to seek public input next month. At this week’s Benton Harbor City Commission meeting, commissioners heard from Don Carpenter, a consultant working on the Twin Cities Harbor Visioning Charrette. It’s a grant-funded effort to plan for riverfront development in a sustainable way.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Department of Transportation has updated its Drive website to be more user friendly. Spokesperson Nick Schirripa tells WSJM News MDOT recently discontinued the MI Drive phone app, and redesigned the website to work better with mobile devices.. ...Read Full Story

No dogs allowed. The Benton Harbor City Commission on Monday voted to clarify that is the case with Jean Klock Park. Public Safety Director Dan McGinnis told them his department has gotten complaints about people taking their pooches to the beach.. ...Read Full Story

An agreement has been finalized so residents of the city of Parchment and Cooper Township who are dealing with chemical contamination in their water will get clean water. The Kalamazoo City Commission and the Parchment City Commission approved an agreement Monday for Kalamazoo to provide a year’s worth of water to Parchment’s water system, which also serves parts of Cooper Township. Kalamazoo Mayor Bobby Hopewell says local, state and federal agencies came together to help.. ...Read Full Story

Somebody shot up a house in Vandalia Monday evening, and got caught a short time later. According to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, a suspect fired several shots at a home in the 17-thousand-800 block of State Street around 6:45 last night. Nobody was shot, and the suspect was caught by police a short time later. Deputies were helped out by Pokagon Tribal Police and troopers from the Michigan State Police. They aren’t saying what prompted the shooting, and have not released any information on the suspect, pending that person’s arraignment.. ...Read Full Story

Tonight brings the 35th annual Police National Night Out as local police departments look to mingle with the public and establish good relations. St. Joseph Township Police Officer Rick Knapp tells WSJM News there will be a gathering at St. Joseph’s Riverview Park featuring demonstrations for the public.. ...Read Full Story

Congressman Fred Upton is running unopposed on the Republican primary ballot today for another term in the U.S. House, but there are four Democrats vying to be his opponent in November. Voters in the 6th District will pick from David Benac, Rich Eicholz, George Franklin, and Dr. Matt Longjohn. None of the four has previously held elected office.. ...Read Full Story

Applications to open a medical marijuana business in Benton Harbor will become available on September 1. That’s following a Monday meeting of the city commission. The commission previously had set the application date about a month later, but a shift in state rules prompted bumping the local dates up. Commissioner Mary Alice Adams on Monday pushed for an even earlier date, but Mayor Marcus Muhammad didn’t want to overwhelm city staff.. ...Read Full Story

Preparations are underway for what’s called Michigan’s Longest Garage Sale. Set for this weekend, the US 12 Heritage Trail Garage Sale is a series of sales taking place all the way from New Buffalo to Detroit. The Southwest Michigan Planning Commission’s Chris Martin helps to organize the event and spoke with WSJM News about it.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — New voting machines in Michigan may cause problems for residents with a visual disability.
The Detroit Free Press reports that Tuesday’s primary will feature $40 million of new equipment that replaced aging voting machines. Blind voters in the state have used AutoMark Voter Assist Terminals for more than a decade. The terminals have a touch screen and a keypad with Braille. Most Michigan counties will now use Dominion Voting Systems. The equipment
doesn’t have keypads with Braille and feature verbal instructions that can be difficult for a blind person to follow. Fred Woodhams is a spokesman for the Michigan Secretary of State’s Office. He says the device is federally certified and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. A 2015 survey estimates that about 221,000 Michigan residents have a visual
disability.. ...Read Full Story

A brand new 14 by 12 foot mural has been painted on the outside brick wall of the St. Joseph Welcome Center downtown. St. Joseph Today’s Amy Zapal tells WSJM News the organization hired Houston-based artist Anat Ronen to spruce up the alley wall that faces Main Street. The mural was finished on Friday.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — Members of a northern Michigan resort community have eliminated a bylaw being challenged in court that requires homeowners to be of “Christian persuasion.” The Petoskey News-Review reports members of the Bay View Association voted 69% to 31% Saturday to strike down the decades-old requirement. A newly adopted rule states applicants for membership must support the Bay View mission and “respect the principles of the United Methodist Church.” It eliminates a requirement that applicants submit a letter of recommendation from their pastor or church leader. A group of residents have filed a federal lawsuit to overturn the rule, alleging it violates the First Amendment. The U.S. Department of Federal Housing
notified the associated in May that it failed to prove it’s exempt from a law prohibiting discrimination.. ...Read Full Story

There is plenty to be decided tomorrow at the ballot box. Along with state races for governor and the U.S. Senate primary, Berrien County voters are choosing candidates for the state House, state Senate, and county commission along with the Democratic race for Congress. In the races for state House in the 79th District, five Republicans and two Democrats are running. The Republicans are Joann DeMeulenaere, Bruce Gorenflo, Maria Moen, Troy Rolling and Pauline Wendzel. On the Democratic side, Joey Andrews faces Marletta Seats. The seat is currently held by Representative Kim LaSata, who is trying to make the jump to the state Senate after less than one term in the House. She faces fellow state Representative Dave Pagel in the Republican primary in the 21st District. Southern Berrien County voters have six Republicans to choose from in the primary to succeed Pagel, who is term limited. They are Steve Bury, Dana Daniels, Daniel Hinkle, David Mann, Brad Paquette and Kelly Priede. Only one Democrat in the race, so Dean Hill will be on the ballot in November.. ...Read Full Story

Residents of Van Buren County are invited to come to Lawrence for the National Night Out. Reserve Captain Rodney Bridgeforth of the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department told WSJM News what’s happening.. ...Read Full Story

When you cast your ballot today, the Michigan Secretary of State’s Office is reminding you to stick to just Republicans, Democrats, or Libertarians. Spokesman Fred Woodhams says any ballot with more than one party selected will be tossed out and you’ll have to vote again.. ...Read Full Story

This year’s summer auction of property tax-foreclosed properties by Berrien County is one of the most successful ever in terms of selling parcels of land that had homes or vacant businesses. Treasurer Bret Witkowski says they had a first during the Tuesday morning auction.. ...Read Full Story

Next Tuesday is the National Night Out and the first ever held in Allegan County. You’re invited to Saugatuck’s Coghlin Park Tuesday, August 7 from 6 to 8 p.m. for food and drink, giveaways, and demonstrations of fire district and safety equipment. The Saugatuck-Douglas Convention and Visitors Bureau will be sponsoring a free parking shuttle bus. It will run between Saugatuck High School and Coghlin Park from 5:30 to 8:30. More information available at Saugatuck’s City Hall and on Facebook.. ...Read Full Story

Two men in their 50s are recovering with just minor injuries after a plane crash in Dowagiac this weekend. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the Saturday evening incident, which happened around 7 p.m. The 54-year-old pilot was treated at the scene, while his 51-year-old passenger was taken to Borgess Lee Memorial Hospital. He was treated and released from there. The plane was taking off when it crashed at Dowagiac Municipal Airport.. ...Read Full Story

Michigan’s latest water crisis is coming from a chemical used in manufacturing, fire suppression foam, and other uses. PFAS has turned up in wells north of Grand Rapids, near Kellogg Airport in Battle Creek, and most recently, rendered the city of Parchment’s water system unusable in Kalamazoo County. State Representative Peter Lucido of Macomb County wants an immediate ban on the substance enacted. He spoke with Michigan News Network about it.. ...Read Full Story

Banking will get a little more convenient for Honor Credit Union members in Buchanan next year, as currently their closest branches are in Niles and Berrien Springs. The financial institution is announcing plans to open a branch in the city at 117 North Red Bud Trail in early 2019. The branch will be within walking distance to many restaurants and shops in Buchanan, and will open up across from the Duck Pond and Lehman’s Farm House. The building is currently being designed. Berrien Springs branch manager Karol Behrle will be the manager of the new location in her hometown. In a statement, Honor Credit Union CEO Scott McFarland said “Buchanan has been a great community partner of Honor’s for years.” He adds, “we are excited to bring the increased convenience of a local branch to our Buchanan members and look forward to getting to know new friends in this growing community.” Honor Credit Union has been a supported the Buchanan community through providing volunteers for the annual Thrill On The Hill events, sponsoring floor hockey teams, and supporting the Buchanan Area Chamber of Commerce. The credit union has over 80,000 members in the state. The Buchanan branch will be its 25th in Michigan.. ...Read Full Story

State Senator Tonya Schuitmaker has endorsed Aric Nesbitt in the race for Michigan Senate in the 26th District. Schuitmaker currently occupies that post and is being term-limited out of office. She tells WSJM News Nesbitt, a former state representative and head of the Michigan Lottery, is right for southwest Michigan.. ...Read Full Story

The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department is warning the public about the latest phone scam. It tells us it has been hearing from residents who have been called by someone claiming to be working for the sheriff’s department. The caller tells the intended victim they owe money for warrants and will be arrested if they don’t pay up. The caller ID on the phone will show a true sheriff’s office number and the scammer will even tell the victim to check the internet for the number, but the sheriff’s department said it’s fake. The scammers are spoofing the number. Police advise the public not to fall for the scam and to just hang up.. ...Read Full Story

A new effort is being launched by a bi-partisan group in Congress to get some procedural rules changed so more can get done. Spearheaded by the Problem Solvers group, Congressman Fred Upton tells WSJM News the “Break the Gridlock” campaign aims to implement new rules when the next Speaker is chosen. He said the changes are a bit “Inside Baseball,” but gave us some examples.. ...Read Full Story

We will get to vote on a constitutional change regarding how congressional and state legislative districts are drawn. The Michigan Supreme Court issued a ruling around 10:30 Tuesday night dismissing a lawsuit challenging the ballot proposal from Voters Not Politicians to take the responsibility of drawing the districts out of the hands of lawmakers. The lawsuit contended the proposal made too many changes to the state Constitution, and would create a new branch of government, but the state’s highest court disagreed. Katey Fahey is the executive director of the grassroots group that worked to get the measure before voters, and is very relieved.. ...Read Full Story

Election workers in Berrien County have been busy this last dew weeks preparing for next Tuesday’s primaries. Berrien County Clerk Sharon Tyler tells WSJM News voters should know there are some new machines in place.. ...Read Full Story

Housing permits for single family home construction have increased nearly 4% in Michigan during the first half of this year, but production is not meeting the demand. Bob Filka is the CEO of the Home Builders Association of Michigan.. ...Read Full Story

With the state of emergency declared this past weekend in Kalamazoo County for PFAS in the drinking water in the city of Parchment and Cooper Township along with the discovery of the chemicals in northern Kent County, the Battle Creek area, and near Selfridge Air National Guard Base in suburban Detroit, is it a problem here? We put that question to Gillian Conrad of the Berrien County Health Department.. ...Read Full Story

Tuesday will bring the 35th annual Police National Night Out as local police departments look to mingle with the public and establish good relations. St. Joseph Township Police Officer Rick Knapp tells WSJM News there will be a gathering at St. Joseph’s Riverview Park featuring demonstrations for the public.. ...Read Full Story

Andrews University will hold its summer graduation ceremonies this weekend. Graduation coordinator Dalary Payne tells WSJM News there will be 305 students receiving degrees. It’s a diverse bunch.. ...Read Full Story

Two men are facing charges following two separate drug raids in Benton Harbor in the past two weeks. The Southwest Enforcement Team tells us it raided a home in the 200 block of Hull Street on Tuesday, July 31 following a month-long investigation. There, officers say they found about 50 grams of crack cocaine and powder cocaine. A 32-year-old man was arrested on drug charges. The second raid was at a home in the 800 block of Superior Street this Thursday. Police say they found cocaine packaged for sale and distribution, a shotgun, and a possibly stolen handgun. A 44-year-old man was arrested on drug and gun charges. The Southwest Enforcement Team says the two cases are not related.. ...Read Full Story

Michigan Sixth District candidate for Congress George Franklin is making one final push to drum up support for his primary candidacy with a tour this weekend. Franklin, seeking the Democratic nomination to take on Congressman Fred Upton in November, kicked off the tour in Three Rivers on Thursday. On Friday, it took him to Kalamazoo and Paw Paw, while he planned to appear in St. Joseph Saturday. Franklin’s St. Joe stop will be at downtown Chalk the Block festivities at 301 State Street near the St. Joseph Welcome Center from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Also Saturday, he’ll stop by Cassopolis. On Sunday, Franklin plans to be at the Coloma Open Air Market from 2 to 3, and Watervliet from 3 to 5, where he’ll be canvassing. Another St. Joseph visit and a South Haven visit are planned for Monday. Franklin worked as a lobbyist for Kellogg before starting his own consulting business. Also in the running for the Sixth District Democratic nomination are David Benac, Rich Eichholz, and Matt Longjohn. The primary will be Tuesday.. ...Read Full Story

Cornerstone Alliance is making an aggressive push to bring more retailers to Benton Township. Cornerstone President Rob Cleveland tells WSJM News the group has hired The Retail Coach, a national retail recruitment and development firm, hoping to get some spaces filled along M-139 between I-94 and Napier Avenue.. ...Read Full Story

The Bridgman Police Department has closed its investigation into a reported dog attack on a child and says the story was not true. Early this week, the department on Facebook asked for the public’s help in identifying the owner of a dog that allegedly bit a 3-year-old boy on the face. The child’s father told police a woman had been walking the dog Sunday night along Lake Street near Toth Street and allowed his son to pet it. That’s when the bite supposedly happened. On Thursday, Bridgman police posted an update on the situation, saying the location and description of the woman and dog involved were false. Officers say they have located the real dog and its owner. The department is now submitting its report on the investigation to the Berrien County Prosecutor’s Office for a possible charge of filing a false police report. The department thanked the public for coming forward with tips in the investigation.. ...Read Full Story

Berrien County’s newest park is close to opening to the public. Berrien County Parks Director Brian Bailey tells WSJM News he took some county commissioners on a tour of Paw Paw River County Park in Watervliet this week. That’s after a 90 foot pedestrian bridge was completed late last month to help people reach a 9 acre island in the river.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — Michigan officials are warning dog owners to keep their pets at home if they’re sick to prevent the spread of canine influenza. The Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development said Thursday that 49 cases of dog flu have been confirmed in six Lower Peninsula counties since July 13, compared with nine cases during all of 2017. The six counties are Huron, Kent, Macomb, Oakland, Ottawa, and Wayne. The agency says dog flu is highly contagious. Symptoms include fever, lethargy, coughing, and nasal and/or eye discharge. Most cases of canine influenza are mild, and dogs usually recover within two to three weeks. However, more severe cases can occur. More information is available online .. ...Read Full Story

Berrien County officials are looking for a new chief public defender and the county commission has approved assigning chief assistant public defender Christopher Renna to head up the department on an interim basis. Renna will assume that role officially on August 5, taking over for Carl Macpherson, who is leaving to return to Oregon and says he is interested in getting the job permanently.. ...Read Full Story

Berrien County will be helping out Cass County on managing transportation services. After tabling a resolution to allow county transportation and planning coordinator Evan Smith to work one day a week for Cass County last week, commissioners voted 11-1 to approve the assistance. Berrien County Administrator Bill Wolf says Cass County will pay $33,000 a year for the help.. ...Read Full Story

It’s time once again for Chalk the Block in downtown St. Joseph. St. Joe Today’s Amy Zapal tells WSJM News it starts Friday with chalk art right on the pavement downtown. It’s provided by both amateurs and professionals.. ...Read Full Story

Congressman Fred Upton isn’t terribly concerned there will be a government shut down this fall. President Trump has threatened one if he doesn’t get his border wall, but Upton tells WSJM News the spending plan outlined by the House provides something else.. ...Read Full Story

This Saturday will bring the third annual Breastfeeding on the Bluff event in downtown St. Joseph. The Berrien County Health Department’s Gillian Conrad tells WSJM News hundreds of moms will head to the bluff across the street from the library to take part.. ...Read Full Story

An AMBER Alert that was issued Thursday for a one-year-old Grand Rapids boy is over. Grand Rapids police say Miquis Jenkins has been found safe in Benton Harbor this afternoon after allegedly being taken by his 19-year-old babysitter yesterday. Officers are working on getting the child back to his family. GRPD says the babysitter, Iyesha Gibbs, has also been found in Benton Harbor and will be taken to Grand Rapids to be questioned.. ...Read Full Story

Defense attorney Anastase Markou is confident a Michigan Court of Appeals ruling regarding accused Kalamazoo mass murderer Jason Dalton is going to stand. The appeals court this week ruled Dalton’s statements to police are inadmissible at trial because officers repeatedly ignored his request for an attorney. Markou said the claim by police that they didn’t allow an attorney to be present due to a danger to the public and the fear there were other victims isn’t valid in this case.. ...Read Full Story

Democrats and at least one Republican are claiming the state’s highest law enforcement officer may have broken the law, and they have the email to prove it. The Detroit Free Press broke the latest angle to the story that Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley brought up in a debate this summer, and he’s using it to try to chip away at Attorney General Bill Schuette’s lead before next week’s primary. The emails show that the Attorney General asked over a dozen staff members to do political work on state time in 2015. Calley claims he has never seen anything like it.. ...Read Full Story

Police have issued an AMBER Alert for a one-year-old Grand Rapids boy taken by his babysitter, and Grand Rapids police say they may be in either that city or Benton Harbor. The young boy has been identified as Miquis Jenkins, who was last seen with 19-year-old babysitter Iyesha Gibbs at 1 p.m. on Wednesday. Gibbs is believed to be driving a silver SUV with a broken passenger side window covered in plastic. Grand Rapids PD is working with Benton Harbor Public Safety to try to locate the two. Gibbs is 5’4″ with short black hair, and weighs around 250 pounds. Police say she often babysits Jenkins. Anyone with information is being urged to call Grand Rapids Police at (616) 456-3338, (616) 456-3422, or call 911.. ...Read Full Story

The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department is warning the public about the latest phone scam. It tells us it has been hearing from residents who have been called by someone claiming to be working for the sheriff’s department. The caller tells the intended victim they owe money for warrants and will be arrested if they don’t pay up. The caller ID on the phone will show a true sheriff’s office number and the scammer will even tell the victim to check the internet for the number, but the sheriff’s department said it’s fake. The scammers are spoofing the number. Police advise the public not to fall for the scam and to just hang up.. ...Read Full Story

The victims in a deadly motel fire on Saturday have been honored with a vigil. Mourners gathered on Wednesday night at the Cosmo Extended Stay Motel on M-139 in Sodus Township where a fire killed 26-year-old Kiarre Curtis and five of her children. At the vigil, family of Kiarre Curtis remembered her as someone who was struggling the best she could for her family.. ...Read Full Story

You may be glad that the Coloma Glad-Peach Festival is here. The 51st annual event starts Thursday in downtown Coloma with the opening of the carnival. Festival Secretary Maureen Saltzman tells WSJM News things really get going Friday.. ...Read Full Story

Congressman Fred Upton is hoping to hold hearings on the PFAS contamination found in the water system serving Parchment and Cooper Township in Kalamazoo County. He tells WSJM News making sure such a problem doesn’t happen again — or happen elsewhere — will depend on figuring out how the situation occurred. In the meantime…. ...Read Full Story

Andrews University will hold its summer graduation ceremonies this weekend. Graduation coordinator Dalary Payne tells WSJM News there will be 305 students receiving degrees. It’s a diverse bunch.. ...Read Full Story

With FBI fugitive Antwan “Tank” Mims now in custody, police have a whole lot of work still to do. Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety Director Dan McGinnis tells WSJM News catching Mims for two murders in the city on March 25 is just the first task. Now, he’s hoping more people will talk.. ...Read Full Story

Next Tuesday is the National Night Out and the first ever held in Allegan County. You’re invited to Saugatuck’s Coghlin Park Tuesday, August 7 from 6 to 8 p.m. for food and drink, giveaways, and demonstrations of fire district and safety equipment. The Saugatuck-Douglas Convention and Visitors Bureau will be sponsoring a free parking shuttle bus. It will run between Saugatuck High School and Coghlin Park from 5:30 to 8:30. More information available at Saugatuck’s City Hall and on Facebook.. ...Read Full Story

We will get to vote on a constitutional change regarding how congressional and state legislative districts are drawn. The Michigan Supreme Court issued a ruling around 10:30 Tuesday night dismissing a lawsuit challenging the ballot proposal from Voters Not Politicians to take the responsibility of drawing the districts out of the hands of lawmakers. The lawsuit contended the proposal made too many changes to the state Constitution, and would create a new branch of government, but the state’s highest court disagreed. Katey Fahey is the executive director of the grassroots group that worked to get the measure before voters, and is very relieved.. ...Read Full Story

Caught. The FBI says Antwan “Tank” Mims of Benton Harbor is in custody after being added to the bureau’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list earlier this summer for two murders on March 25. Mims was arrested just after 4 p.m. yesterday at a home in College Park, Georgia by FBI agents and the FBI Atlanta Metro Major Offenders Task Force. He is wanted for the murders of Cortez Miller and Michael Johnson at a house party on Lavette Street in Benton Harbor, during which witnesses say he shot them both, and then shot them again while they were on the ground. Mims is the 486th person captured of the 519 who have been on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list since it was established in March 1950. He will be brought back to Benton Harbor to face charges.. ...Read Full Story

Buchanan’s summer Thrill on the Hill is this weekend. The fun actually starts Thursday at 4 p.m. with a giant Slip and Slide set up on the big hill downtown. You can pay $5 to ride an inner tube or flotation device down it. The action will continue Friday and Saturday. The “riding at high speeds down a big hill” angle isn’t the only fun taking place as part of Thrill on the Hill. Other planned activities include an adult luau on Friday from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. The Thrill on the Hill will also feature music, games, and contests throughout the weekend. The summer event compliments the annual winter Thrill on the Hill when they rig up the downtown hill to be extra slippery by bringing in snow. You can find out more at the Buchanan Thrill on the Hill Facebook page.. ...Read Full Story

Election workers in Berrien County have been busy this last dew weeks preparing for next Tuesday’s primaries. Berrien County Clerk Sharon Tyler tells WSJM News voters should know there are some new machines in place.. ...Read Full Story

A new effort is being launched by a bi-partisan group in Congress to get some procedural rules changed so more can get done. Spearheaded by the Problem Solvers group, Congressman Fred Upton tells WSJM News the “Break the Gridlock” campaign aims to implement new rules when the next Speaker is chosen. He said the changes are a bit “Inside Baseball,” but gave us some examples.. ...Read Full Story

The Red Cross of Southwest Michigan continues to provide a shelter in St. Joseph for residents displaced by a Saturday motel fire. The Cosmo Extended Stay Motel on M-139 in Sodus Township was evacuated due to the deadly blaze, leaving many residents with nowhere to go. Breeze Ettl with the Red Cross tells WSJM News they were devastated.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — A Michigan appeals court has ruled certain statements made to police by an Uber driver charged with killing six people and wounding two others in southwestern Michigan cannot be used at trial. The three-judge panel said Tuesday that some of Jason Dalton’s statements should be suppressed because a detective continued questioning him after Dalton “invoked both his rights to counsel and to remain silent.” The 48-year-old Dalton is charged with murder and attempted murder. Investigators have quoted him as saying a “devil figure” on Uber’s app was controlling him on the night of the 2016 shootings in Kalamazoo County. He’s not accused of shooting customers. Prosecutors say they are reviewing the appeals court ruling. Dalton’s attorney, Anastase Markou, says the appeals court “did an excellent job rendering a very thorough and thoughtful opinion.”. ...Read Full Story